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Of African Marigold

The Description. 1 THe common Africane, or as they vulgarly terme it French Marigold, hath small weake and tender branches trailing upon the ground, reeling and leaning this way and that way, beset with leaves consisting of many particular leaves, indented about the edges, which being held up against the sunne, or to the light, are seene to be full of holes like a sieve, even as those of Saint Johns woort: the floures stand at the top of the springy branches forth of long cups or husks, consisting of eight or ten small leaves, yellow underneath, on the upper side of a deeper yellow tending to the colour of a darke crimson velvet, as also soft in handling: but to describe the colour in words, it is not possible, but this way; lay upon paper with a pensill a yellow colour called Masticot, which being dry, lay the same over with a little saffron steeped in water or wine, which setteth forth most lively the colour. The whole plant is of a most ranke and unwholesome smell, and perisheth at the first frost.

The Nature and Vertues.

The unpleasant smel, especially of that common sort with single floures doth shew that it is of a poisonsome and cooling qualitie; and also the same is manifested by divers experiments: for I remember, saith Dodonaeus, that I did see a boy whose lippes and mouth when hee began to chew the floures did swell extreamely; as it hath often happened unto them, that playing or piping with quils or kexes of Hemlockes, do hold them a while betweene their lippes: likewise he saith, we gave to a cat the floures with their cups, tempered with fresh cheese, shee forthwith mightily swelled, and a little while after died: also mice that have eaten of the seed thereof have been found dead. All which things doe declare that this herbe is of a venomous and poysonsome facultie; and that they are not to be hearkened unto, that suppose this herb to be a harmlesse plant: so to conclude, these plants are most venomous and full of poison, and therefore not to be touched or smelled unto, much lesse used in meat or medicine.